“This project seems to be the only way to fulfill humanity’s dream to explore outer space,” theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate Gerard ‘t Hooft, an ambassador for Mars One, says in an introductory video posted on the company’s website. “It is going to be an exciting experiment. Let’s get started.”

Company officials also hold out the possibility for a sequel or spinoff.

“In time a second base could be built at a different location on Mars. Mars has the same area of land as the Earth, because Mars has no oceans,” the website says. “Really, those first four in 2023 are just the beginning of our adventure.”